Hotel Exel Amstetten

... were doing well and to take us out to dinner. We also were able to get some info about living in Geneva and London next term. Have to admit I’m a little concerned about those 2 cities, which are supposed to be the 2 most expensive cities. I’m trying to budget everything so that I can do what I want to do but also not exhaust all my money. I’m also still working on planning my 2 week spring break between London ...

Woke up to beautiful scenery as we passed through the Wachau Valley. Picturesque villages, castle ruins, old churches and many vineyards on the terraced slopes of the mountains rising on both sides of the river. There have been vineyards here since Roman times.
When we arrived at Melk, the Captain announced that due to low water (20 cm below keel) there would be a change in plans. While we are touring the Melk Abbey, the ship would continue on and we would go ...

... but not too far inland, so from the top you get an excellent view of the river weaving through the lush green valley, wineyards and corn fields. The ruins themselves are enchanting. It was really nice to stand on the top walls and soak up the sun and the view. Also from the castle ruins you can see a corn maze down below. The maze is groomed to look like a knight on horseback, and you can see that clearly from so high above.

... The colorful, ornately decorated nave is breathtaking and nearly everyone stopped in their tracks upon entering. Altogether it was a fantastic place to visit and I am really glad I had the opportunity. We spent some hours there before walking back down to the town centre below for a bite to eat. We sat outside in the gorgeous weather where we could see the towers of the abbey not far from us.

We scored THE best homestay in Weyer for the Powerman Austria race (23 August). The family we stayed with had a 4* Pension in the hills. We got to share the guest cottage with a French couple - Andy the Frenchie was racing too. The family have been there for 150 years and 3 generations now live there. It is also a working dairy farm and has fruit trees - they have some serious land. The Grandfather was hysterical he ...

The only attraction in Melk (other than being a beautiful town on the water) is the Melk Abbey (which is still a running Benedictine monastery and school and has been for more than 900 years) It is definitely worth the stop .. abbey,church and gardens are beautiful. The journey from Melk to Vienna is one of the most ...

... Also in the long wait Corey went back for a second catch and had no luck for ages and was getting very frustrated. As a joke I said to him "give me one cast for 30 seconds and I'll get you one so we can go eat". Within about thirty seconds I got one and we were done. He wasn't a happy chappy, but it was hilarious! The meals were great and then we headed back to the camp for our second dinner, where I was still a 'cookie'. After dinner we thought it was only fair to make Scott and Mitch ...

Yesterday evening I met a swiss woman who happened to be in the hostel and bike touring. Her hobby was geocaching We agreed to travel together for a bit and she would show me what it was. Being Swiss she was laughably shocked that anyone would remove rolls from breakfast to make lunch. Now there was a shorter way out of Linz which wasn't quite on the maps but she was confident that she could find the way. So ...

Die Heimat ist erreicht Vor 8 Tagen hat ein großes Abenteuer von einem Niederösterreicher und einem Burgenländer begonnen. Am Bodensee hat alles begonnen und auf der Strecke wurden die höchsten Bergstraßen bezwungen sowie Extraschleifen gelaufen, um alle Bundesländer zu durchqueren. Und trotzdem sind Otto und Michael heute in Niederösterreich eingetroffen. Unglaublich, aber unsere Helden schaffen alles. Die ganze Nacht über waren in ...

On Friday, I awoke to a glorious morning, and spent ages deliberating whether to stay another day in this beautiful City, but after wandering around and taking some photos, decided to take advantage of the weather and press on, although it was getting on for 1.00 when I started off. It took a while to actually leave Linz, as I followed the river which goes in a wide loop around the City, giving a view of the Industrial side. The cycle-way cut ...